Some relief but rainfall deficiencies remain widespread

The Bureau of Meteorology announced today that well above
average June rainfall removed or eased short-term rainfall
deficiencies in eastern Queensland and western Tasmania. However,
areas with pre-existing rainfall deificiencies generally
experienced below average falls in June, most notably in the
southwest of WA where rainfall deficiencies have developed for
the third successive year.

7-month rainfall deficiencies

For the seven-month period from December
to June, a region of serious to severe rainfall deficiency
exists along the eastern border of South Australia with both
Victoria and NSW, and then follows the NSW/Queensland border to
the coast. Other pockets are evident in Queensland near Birdsville,
Longreach and between Cooktown and Townsville, and in the NT along
the north coast.

5-month rainfall deficiencies

For the five-month period from February to June,
rainfall deficiencies intensified across parts of western and southern
WA, but there was relief from heavy rain in both western Tasmania and
the Queensland coastal strip from Mackay to Brisbane. Also experiencing
rainfall deficiencies for this period were central and southeast SA,
western Victoria, northern and eastern Tasmania, and parts of western
and central Queensland.